Toy signal tower



A. R. FERGUSSON TOY SIGNAL TOWER Filed Jan. '26. 1923 Patented ct. T4, 1021i..

ALN R. FERGUSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TOY SIGNAL TOVVER.

Application filed. January 26, 1923. Serial No. 614,967.

Z 10 aZZ 707mm it may 0071067171 Be it known that I, ALAN R. FrinGiJssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Toy Signal Towers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toydevices such as toy semaphore signal towers, and particularly to a'toy or miniature stand or upright support 'upon which may be mounted supporting arms for suitable signal ineans or tlie like, an object of tlie invention being to provide an improved device of this general class which will be cheap in construction, easy to manufacture, strong and durable in use. i i

Other' objects of this invention will appear in the following` description jthereof, reference beiiig had to the accompanying drawing's forming apart of this specification, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in. the several views and wherein Fig. 1 is a front side elevation illustrating a semaphore tower; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section illustrating the manner iii which a semaphore arm may be connected to the upright; Fig. 5 is a cross section takenon line 5-5 of Fig. Li; Fig. 6 is a rear elevation illustrating' a toy telegraph pole embodying certain features of my invention and Figi 7 is a cross section on line 7- 7 of Fig. 6.

Before explaining in detail the present improvement and mode of operation thereof, desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phraseology which I .employ is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. p

I-Ieretofore, in toy devices such as` sema- 4 phore signal towers or the like, the manufacture tliereof has been such, due to the character and lcost of material used, the Character of construction and the large number of steps necessary in order to complete the makincr of the devices, asto render the devices re atively expensive'so 'that it has been impossible to sell the same cheaply in five and ten cent stores. Furthermore, where devices of this class heretofore made were constructed With a sheet metal base and an upright formed of sheet metal tubing, a relatively flimsy and weak structure resulted and hence such devices did not have the durability which is desirable in the case of toy devices which receive hard usage. By virtue of the present invention however, applicant has constructed a toy signal device. which is not only considerably .cheaper than anyheretofore made but a great deal Stronger and more durable in use. The supporting stand Ain general is preferably formed from a single length of wire bent to form a coiled base and a supporting upright. This stand can be made in a single operation and due to the cheapness of material and labor necessary for making this stand it can be produced cheaply enough for sale in the five and ten cent stores. And in addition the stand is practically indestructible.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the toy semaphore signal tower preferably comprises a stand which is formed by bending up a single length of wire of suitable size and length, the stand thus comprising a coiled base9 in which the wire is bent inwardly at 10 in the plane of the base and bent upwardly from the center of the coil C to form an upright supporting member 11. The upright ll is provided with imitation steps for the imaginary purpose of climbing the tower, these steps comprising elongated lugs or projections 12 squeezed or forced out of the metal of the wire upright. Inthe present instance the imitation steps are arranged alternately at opposite sides of the upright member 11. i

Tn the present instance the supporting stand is provided with a pair of swinging semaphore arms ll which are directly pivoted or connected to the wire upright or post 11. The latter is `pr'essed or fiattenedxout at 134 to formfiat portions to which the flat sides of the armia may be `readily attached as by means of rivets 15. By virtue of this construction wire of relatively small diameter may be utilized, yet the semaphore arm vmay' nevertheless be pivoted by means of rivets or other suitable means directly to the wire post, so thatby increasing the size or width of the post at such places I thus provide enough surface for the rivet or other attaching device to pass through the Wire.

This construction considerably cheapens the g nianuiactu-kreofithe device singe it eliminats the necessity. offV usinga supplementary clamp for attaclnng the semaphore 'arm to the Wire post, 'i

Each semaphore arm lt* is preferably stamped out of Sheet metal and at; inner, end beneath the pivot 15 Vis provided with an elbow or offset* pontion. 16: 'lihis elbow..

or offset end may beprovided with suitable sellfilockngmeans forautomatically looking.

the armin variousiadjusted positions In. the vpresentv instance. the self-looking. means also. forms means adapted: to sera/te thepurpose. of.: imitation signal. hghts. This Vselfr 'lQCklnglneans con'iprlses a. pair of spaced c1rcular,. depnessi'onsv or! indentations 1 7', which. n.'the front side. of' the signal; tower as s town. '1n. Eig. 1:, may belithographed: in

. difenent. colors. to'l imitatfi signal; lights,` on

inSteam ofzpaintingor.`v lithographiiig the Goloriedi light-s,` colered. papen disks 1.9.,may be.

RaSted: inthejcircular depressions. At the near. side` of: the. signali tower. these :depres-J sionsyli', asshown'. in. Figs. 2 andi 4;; formv bulges. orprojectiqns 18. forming a. groove therebetween for.. rece iying. the wirepost 11'.

projectlions 1-.7' will; frictionallyv engage` the i Wire; post. .117 and: theiresiliency ofthe arin will permit the pnojection117il to pass over the. 'postandi permit; the. lattenV to'` become lodgexl'` or, gripped gin the. groove between the V` bulgesj 18; 'Bhesemaphore arm.L .may be maintained in. Various, ano'ular poitions due to the'fact that.. either. 'o king. projection points. onxitssurfacev` and Vhold the arm in 'Liu siich 'ad-justed position. In .ther .construction illustrated. inJE-gs.. GL. and .'7'; certain features `offitheinvention..-arezshqwn as adapted toa `toyz'ori.miniature.;telegranh pole'.. In this. instance the.. snpportingf. stand; also.. apreferf vabli .comprises single.. length ;of; Wire bent teffonm afcoiled basefQQ and: an; upright snpporting post; 2h` Thev` Wire. post is also prmfidedfniith Lintegral elongmtedproj ections 22 pinched or forced out: from .themetalaof bentpor. clamped'aaround; the. Wire ,thewirejsoas tozffoi'm imitationfladder steps The. cross arms=23-` of= the telegraph.

tion.

' Itjisitoabe understoodithatiby descr'ibingf in .detal i herein anyparticulanform, stri1c turea: 0,13. arrangementuit.:V is no`tz intendedhA to a limit ..tlie imention Lbeyond :the termsofz'the several claims. :or'athe requirements, of: the priorsart. z jI- IavingL thus :explal'nedi the, .nature .of a my said-invention .and described: a. way., of; constructing and using the same, although withont attempting to,v` set f-orlili` all of' the forms in. which it'` may be made, or all offthemodes of. its use, I claim:

1, In. atoy railway accessory the combina tion of supporting means including' an up- :qight member and a swinging signal 01' semaphore member directly pivoted to said uprlght member oneof said members havmg an integral projection forccd therefrom ber. -and;haying. a depneseon adapted toform loclnng.` means. ati one side for inaintaining.

the. arm in, Various, adjusted; positions and signal means at the opposite side.

4:. Ina toy` railway accessony the'combina` ti'oiigof;A supponting means including an upright wirememberoompressed; to form` a flattenedz portion and a, Swingng Or SemapllQrearm member pnoted; directly to said fiattenedz portion,l one'ofg Said membershavingan. lntegral; projection forced: therefrom 111K position tO. engage the other member. for mamtaining`` the armA member in, various. nositions...

v 5;.. In atoy ralway. ancessony., the combina; tiofin offsupporzting, means. including an, up right Wire.. compressed. to forma. fiattened port-ion, andiasignal;orgsemaphore arm-.pin- Qtnd: directly; to said; flattened, portion. and liayingr a depression adapted'. to. form signal means; at (ineside.y and; Wire engaging ;means at the .Qthento mantain .saida-rm in anyi'of its. j adj listed'- postons.

6,; In aztoy, railway'accessory., thecombination, of af. Wire. fornied: basef having an: upz rightwire providedwith a fl'attenedf'llortion andia signal oi-semapliore arm.diremblyvpin` Otedfto ;saimfiattened porton andzhaving fan angularly.: locatedi pnrtion. provided.- witlr, a Rail'Q-:parallel zdepressons. adapted: to. .nictionally` engage tliemire to maintainthearni in any of its adjustedfpositions,;the ,opposite sides.o fe'said; depre'ssions formmg,`` imitation signal'li'ghts 7 atoy railway` accessory, the;combina-x tion offsnpportlng means-including;a1rup right Wireasald :'Wireliayingatoppositesides.

therefrom.

I 8: In a. toy. ralliiay'` -aoces'siorzy-7 the combi; nation. of supportmg, means. comprisingi a theiiof ladderforming' projections. press ed Wire base and an upright Wire, said Wire having at opposite sides thereof ladderforming projections pressed therefrom.

9. In a toy railWay accessory, the combination of supporting means including an upright Wire having ladder-forming projections pressed from said Wire and also having a flattened portion, and a signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to said flattened portion.

10. In a toy railWay accessory, the combination of supporting means including an upright Wire having ladder-forming projections pressed from said Wire and also having a flattened portion, and a signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to said fiattened portion and provided With a depression effective to frictionally engage the upright Wire and maintain the arm in any` of its adjusted positions.

11. In a toy railWay accessory, the combination of supporting means including an upright Wire having ladder-forming pro-` jections pressed from said Wire and also having a flattened portion, and a signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to said flattened portion and provided With a depression eflective to frictionally engage the upright Wire and maintain the arm in any of its adjusted positions, the opposite side of said depressed portion forming an imitation signal light.

12. In a toy railWay `accessory, the combination of supporting means including an upright member, and a sWinging signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to' said member and having a projecting portion at its rear cooperating With the upright member for maintaining the arm in various positions, said upright member having ladderforming projections pressed therefrom.

13. In a device of the class described, a

support comprising a base and a Wireupright post, said post having a Widened portion, and a signal arm pivoted to said portion, said arm having depressions adapted to form looking means at one side and signal means at the opposite side.

14. In a device of the class described, a support comprising a single length of Wire bent to form a coiled base and an upright post, said post having an integral fiattened portion, and an arm connected to said portion, said arm having depressions adapted to form looking means at one side and signal means at the opposite side, said upright Wire post having pressed-out portions forming imitation ladder steps.

15. In a device of the class described, a support comprising a single length of Wire bent to form a coiled base and an upright post, said post having an integral pressed portion, and an arm connected to said portion, said arm having imitation signal lights at one side and self-looking means at the opposite side and adapted to engage said Wire post for looking the arm in predetermined position.

16. A toy railWay accessory comprising a Wire formed supporting base having an integral Vertical Wire member provided With a fiattened portion, and a sWinging signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to said flattened portion.

17. In a toy ralway accessory, the combination of a `Wire-formed base having one end extended to form a radially disposed portion terminating in a single upright Wire post having a fiattened portion, and a sWinging signal or semaphore' arm pivoted directly to said flattened portion and carrying a projection at one 'side for frictionally engaging the upright Wire to maintain the arm in any of its adjusted positions.

18. In a toy railWay accessory, the comlbination of supporting means including an upright member having a flattened portion, and a `stamped-out sheet metal signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to said fiattened portion for sWinging movement, said arm having a depressed portion in position to frictionally engage the upright member to maintain the arm in any of its adjusted positions.

19. In a toy railWay accessory, the combination of supporting means including an upright member having a flattened portion, and a stamped-out sheet metal signal or semaphore arm directly pivoted to said flattened portion for sWinging movement, said arm having a depressed portion in position to frictionally engage the upright member to maintain the arm in any of its adjusted positions, said depressed portion forming an imitation signal light at the opposite side.

Signed at Buffalo, N. Y., this 24th day of January, 1923. o

ALAN R. FERGUSSON. 

